Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-03-15
WEARING OF THE BLUE.
The Second Temperance Meeting-A ID,
s.fded Suecess

The Second Temperance Meeting-A De-
cided Success.
The Metropolitan Theater was crowded
again last night to hear Richard 7. Booth,
the renowned temperance advocate, in his
second lecture. The same choir and or
chestra that did service on the preceding
evening again occupied the stage, and fur
nished excellent music, The scriptural les
son was read by Rev. A. C. Herrick, and
prayer was offered by Rev. R. L. Mediation.
Rev. Dr. Frost presided, and in his open
ing remarks referred with much pride to
the great success attending the first
meeting in this city. He said the
" glad tidings had been flashed across
the wires, it had gone abroad over
our STATE, and to the most distant
points of our country, that the people
OF the capital city of the Golden State had
entered upon a successful crusade against
the liquor traffic That 700 badges of blue
had been donned, that log persons had
signed the pledge, and the great work was
but upon the threshold of what must be a
great and glorious conquest. He said it is
in the power of the sober men and women
of this city to close every saloon in Sacra-
mento before the work now mapped out
was completed. If every sober man and
woman viii save but one person we
WILL RECLAIM ALL THE DRuNKARDs
In the city, close all the saloons in the
city close every brewery in the county.
Shall we accomplish this work? Enter
upon this performance of duty you owe
to your fellow men make it the prevailing
sentiment of society and see how very soon
II lraadxr III 70
saloon men and brewers realize that there
is mysterious power at work. The 700
blue badges seen upon the streets of our
city to-day strike terror to their ranks. He
then introduced the speaker. Richard T.
Booth.
The speaker announced that tonight he
would lecture on THE Grand Reform"
and on tomorrow evening on THE Comic
and Tragic Sides of a Drunkard's Life"
He then referred to the good work of the
preceding evening and of the probabilities
OF nearly all keeping the pledge. A great
many persons had conscientious sorlples
about signing the pledge. and commended
that it did no good. He differed with these,
but then there were some people who could
not get an idea in their head without a
surgical operation. If a man went into a
forest to cut down tree he could not hope
would apply an ak. The pledge is an ak
in our hands. and already in Sacramento
the saloon-keepers are crying out, "Oh,
Boo-the, spare that tree u Last night"
said he, ''106 blows were struck at the root
of that tree and it is coming down." APP
plause. There was no saloon in the Gar
den of Eden.
THERE WAS NO BREWERY IN PARADISE.
L,,fl -,@Ia foI ha4
shall be rooted up. On the street this
morning heard two men discussing the
meeting of last night, and their re-
marks were decidedly uncompliment-
airy. why" said one "only old
women and little children wear the
blue ribbon" Pointing TO the badge on
the giant form of DR.. Frost the speaker
asked, "What is this, an old woman or a
little child?" [Great laughter.l That little
blue ribbon creates sentiment strong and
irresistible. If you are skeptical put it on
and go out upon the street. The young
man who is going for his morning nip
will catch sight of it and have business not
in the saloon, but in the opposite direction.
The girl with the pitcher of beer, when she
sees it, will hide her pitcher beneath her
apron and drop her head in shame. If we
can make it so ashamed that it will hide
its head, we have won a victory" The
speaker was more eloquent more enter
tanning, more earnest in his appeals, than
on the first evening. AT times the audi
ence were convulsed with laughter,
the next moment almost moved to
tears as he portrayed the sorrows
degradations and evils that followed in the
wake of this, the greatest curse of man.
The recital of his own life was touching in
the extreme, and wildly portrayed the tri-
ais of many good man who has been
RUINED BY TAKING HIS FIRST GLASS.
He Joined the Federal army at the age of
Is. At the close of the war he returned to
his home, married, entered upon what
promised successful business career, was
honored and respected. He formed ques-
tionable associations, joined club, took a
glass OF wine, formed the drinking habit
in less than three years his home was ru-
ined, his business gone and he himself saved
from suicides grave by the kindness of a
former companion. Conscience-stricken,
he came to himself moved to other scenes,
formed new and better associations
and again was prosperous and
happy. Three years sped by; he tried
another glass, and fell. Again he
went down, down, down Health and
hope left him. Fortune, good name,
peace, happiness, home, all fled. The
devil got hold of men-so he explains his
fall and his misery. Just then Gospel
temperance mission was inaugurated at
Ithaca, n. Y, where he was then living.
Mr.. and Mrs. Booth went to the first
meeting in the town. Dick, won't you
sign with me?' she said. He refused
He went forth to find that in
the lowest deep there is lower still.
Coming home one night, later than usual
from carousal, he stumbled upon a kneel-
ing figure in one of the rooms of his DESC
late home. In an agony Of grief, she-for
it was his wife in prayer-clutched his gar
ments, and dragged him on his knees be-
side her. My God, have mercy upon
him and save him." Instantly the prayer
was answered. He responded, My God.
save me, and have mercy upon my wife.
He rose rescued man, saved by the power
of God From that hour-ten years ago
to the present time, he has kept the pledge.
At the close of the meeting last evening
450 blue ribbons were taken and Ito pledges
signed, among the latter being number of
men whose experience has not been unlike
that of the speaker. This makes ], $50 blue
ribbons and 216 pledges for the two meet
ings.
Legislative After-notes.